Production of alkylphenols



' Tonsil, which are magnesium aluminum silicates treated with acids and commonly used I -4,4 dihydroxydiphenyldimethyhnethane is after the addition o f;3% ofan ordinary hye5 drofgenati n catalystoand Q;a%-of{ Tonsi wherein R R and R is a or an univalent alkyl radical or R and Patented May 19, 1931 l STATES i WALTER sononnnnn; {or BERLm- HARLQTTENB RG, Hans mam, or BER-LIN 7 ,STEGLITZ, arm n-E'rnHAn-norirno, OFBEBLIN, enn-Mnnxnssren'ons T0 SOHER-ING- rnonnorron or ALKYnPnnnoLs No Drawing'rlApplicatien fileduTune 22, 1928,Seria1 in). 287,636, and 11; Germany 'ifii i i; 1927.

Our invention refers to the production of alkylphenols which serve as starting materials for odorants,disinfectants and pharmaceutical products.

In the copending application for patent of even date herewith and entitled Production of lsoalkylenphenols Serial No. 287,638 we have described the thermio decomposition of dihydroxydiphenylinethanederivatives into alkylenphenols and phenols. d

The alkylenphenols thus obtained can convertedinto alkylphenols by treatii'igwithz hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst until two hydrogen atoms have ent'e'red into combination? ,7 We have now found that if therniic decomposition is effected in'a hydrogen atmosphere inthe presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, alliylphenols and phenols are directly obtained according tothe formula z distillation j together a bivalent alkylene radical, forming with 'the two adjacent carbon atoms a cyclic, system and wherein thetwo aryl nuclei alsocan have other substituents; 1 I

vVe have further found it preferableto add besides the hydrogenation-catalyst another;

catalyst capable of reducing the temperature at which thermic decomposition occurs. Such catalysts are porous bodies, known as surface-catalysts for instance Frankonite,

as adsorbents, fullers earth, silica gel, active other hydrogen atom suflioient add besides the'hydrogenation' cata lyst' a quantity of surface catalyst from one half to one percent ofthe weight of the dihydroxydiphenyhnethane derivative. A

, surface catalyst upon which the hydrogenationcatalystis precipitated also can be used.

methylmethane, which can be obtained according to the process descrlbed in our copending applicationofevendate entitled A new condensation product from meta-cresol acetone, Serial 0. 287,639.

7 Example 1 is treated-inthe presence of 3% of its weight of an ordinary hydrogenation-catalyst with hydrogen under pressure at 25 0-280, '0. until 2atonisofhydrogenare taken up." From the reaction product para-isopropylphenol and phenol can be separated by fractional s Eaa pk at," p I Ajdiinethyl 2,2'-dihydroxydiphenyldi 4,4 dihydroxydiphenyldimethylrnethane methylmethane is treated with hydrogen as YdescribedinEXa-mple 1 at 215'220 Ci After one-half an, hour the reaction is. completed. Thymol and meta-cresol'are obtained.

. mcee 1 4,4'Idimethyl 2,2 dihydroxydiphenyldimethylmethane is treated "with hydrogen as" describedin Example 1 at C.,after a few hours the. reaction is, completed. Thymol and "ineta-cresolaare obtained, which can be separated "by fractional distillation;

treated with hydrogen, if desired under pressure, at -150 C. until two atoms of hydrogen are taken up. From the reaction product para-isopropylphenol and phenol can be separated by fractional distillation.

Example 5 2,2 dihydroxy 4,4- dimethyldiphenyldimethylmethane is treated as described in EX- ample 4 with hydrogen at 130140 C. but in the presence of Frankonite upon which a catalyst comprising a mixture of nickel, cobalt and copper has been precipitated. Thymol and meta-cresol are obtained.

Example 6 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenylmethylmethane is after the addition of Frankonite upon which a nickel-cobalt-copper-catalyst has been precipitated, treated with hydrogen under pressure at C., until 2 atoms of hydrogen are taken up. thylphenol and phenol are obtained, which can be separated by fractional distillation.

Various changes may be made in the details disclosed in the foregoing specification with- .out departing from the invention or sacrificing the advantages thereof.

We claim I i 1. The-process of producing alkylphenols comprising heating a dihydroxydiphenylmethane of the formula.

wherein R R and R each is a hydrogen atom or an univalent alkyl radical, or R and R together a bivalent alkylene radical forming with the two adjacent carbon atoms a cyclic system and wherein the two aryl nuclei also can have other substituents, in a hydrogen atmosphere in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst until two hydrogen atoms have entered into combination.

2. The process of producing alkylphenols comprising heating a dihydroxydiphenylmethane of the formula H0 on m hn V wherein R R and R each is a hydrogen atom or an univalent alkyl' radical, or R and R together a bivalent alkylene radical forming with the two adjacent carbon atoms a cyclic system and wherein the twoaryl nuclei also can have other substituents, in gen atmosphere in the presence of a hydro genation catalyst andof contact masses having high porosity, until two hydrogen atoms have entered into combination.

3. The process of producin alkylphenols comprising heating a dihydioxydiphenylforming with the two adjacent carbon atoms a cyclic system and wherein the two aryl nuclei also can have other substituents, in a hydrogen atmosphere in the presence of contact masses having high porosity, upon which a hydrogenation catalyst has been precipitated until two hydrogen atoms have entered into combination.

, 4-. The process of producing thymol comprising heating 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2-dihydroxydiphenyldimethylmethane in a hydrogen atmosphere in the presence of a hyodrogenation catalyst until two hydrogen atoms have entered into combination.

5. The process of producing thymol comprising heating droxydiphenyldimethylmethane in a hydrogen atmosphere in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst and of contact masses having a high porosity until two hydrogen atoms have entered into combination.

6. The process of producing thymol comprising heating 4,4-dimethyl-2,2-dihydroxydiphenyldimethylmethane in a hydrogen atmosphere, in the presence of contact masses having a high porosity upon which a hydrogenation catalyst has been precipitated until two hydrogen atoms have entered into combination.

WALTER SGHOELLER. HANS JORDAN. REINHARD CLERC.

ahydroi 4,4-dimethyl-2,2'-dihy- 

